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How to mobile shop like a boss this gift-giving season

If you're still enduring a traffic jam full of people who seem to have forgotten the road rules, just to arrive at a mall full of people who seem to have forgotten the life rules, you're doing the holidays wrong.

It's 2015. We have mobile phones that allow us to do all of our holiday shopping on the subway, during commerical breaks or on the sly at the office.

The key to successfully shopping on mobile lies in the following little hacks, each of which help to eliminate the things that slow you down mid-spending spree.

1. Autofill it all

Whether you have fat finger syndrome, you're a little clumsy on the keyboard or you're just impatient, completing your name and address repeatedly can be both time-consuming and plain annoying.

Thankfully, there are autofill settings that can be enabled on any phone. On Android, setting up a profile on Chrome will allow you to autofill forms from both your phone and your computer. To get started, head to settings and find the autofill forms option where you will be able to add various profiles.

On an iPhone, you will need to create a contact for yourself then head to settings and Safari. Here you will see an option that allows you to select 'Use Contact Info.' Once selected, any site that needs your details will bring up a pop up with the autofill option, saving you from having to type anything at all.

2. Use an online payment service

Tempting though it might be, it's not advisable to keep your credit card details in autofill and often pulling out a wallet and card is just too much work, not to mention potentially unsafe if you're riding around on the subway. Thankfully, there is an option for those of us who, despite being able to recite our elementary school best friend's home phone number, can't seem to remember all those credit card digits by heart.

And that option is an online payment system. These days there are plenty to choose from: PayPal, Visa Checkout, and Google Wallet are just a few. Start noticing which system the stores you frequent accept and ask your bank which online payment systems they prefer. Most allow you to login with an email and password combination that is far more memorable than your credit card number.

3. Look for promo codes

Promo codes have got to be one of the most underutilized advantages of shopping online. Before you hit the purchase button, run a quick search to find out if there are any currently-active applicable promo codes that you can use to save as well as up the convenience factor.

If the site or app you're shopping with has a chat help, try prompting the attendant to ask for available codes. You might just save yourself enough spare change for an extra holiday latte.

If all that fails you and you're desperate for a bargain, head to the site's social media accounts where the latest and greatest in savings are likely to be promoted.

4. Find free shipping hacks

Paying for shipping subtracts from the wonderful convenience of shopping on mobile, which is exactly why most major stores offer free shipping in some capacity. What many people don't realize is that, even at retailers where it's not always the case, it's likely not hard to find.

The aforementioned promo code search will often land you a free shipping code. If not, it's time to get creative. Start by asking the store over Twitter or help chat exactly what it will take to eliminate the fee and see how you go. For many stores, there's a minimum spend or a newsletter sign up that will get you there.

If you're still spending on shipping, an in-store pick up might be your best option.

5. Go high speed

No matter how good the store or how many tools and tips you use while shopping, a slow network is frustrating enough to make heading to the mall seem like a better idea.

Choosing a provider with a strong network is, of course, step number one. For even more speed, clear your app cache and junk files or go one better by deleting apps or widgets you no longer use.

As you implement these tips and your mobile shopping game starts to reach pro-level, you'll quickly see that shopping your entire gift list on-the-go will become a reality.

6. Use safe connections

Nothing ruins your holidays like having your personal security compromised. When you're shopping outside of an app and particularly if you're using public Wi-Fi, look for the 's' in the 'https' part of the URL to ensure your connection is secure. A small lock icon at the bottom of the page will also indicate you're shopping with a secure site.

If anything feels phishy, whether during the shopping process or in a follow-up text or email, don't give out any more details and call the store on their official website to get more information.

7. Download one-stop-shop apps

Many online stores have a responsive site good enough that you can be tricked into thinking you don't actually need to download the app. But more times than not, the app is a faster and more condensed version of the website: well worth the extra minute or so it takes to wait for the download.

To avoid winding up with a time-consuming excess of apps to search through, prioritize those you know you can buy multiple items from. Think aggregate sites, major retailers and any niche stores you find yourself going back to time and time again. Make sure you're getting the official app and the most up-to-date version to help keep your activity safe from malware.

Put your mobile device to work. Following these tips and tricks will have you holiday shopping like a boss, and leave you with plenty of time to enjoy the festivities.

Mashable
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